Explora

Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Explora (Blame) stayed close throughout and once in front, the even-money choice proved too tough to run down as she held off Counting Stars to take Sunday's GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Longshot Knickleandime (Knicks Go) went to the front as Sneaky Good (Into Mischief) to the inside and Explora on the outer, took up chase through an opening quarter in :23.45. As the 15-1 chance continued to show the way, the even-money choice Explora pressured her to the outside through a :47.70 half. With...

When a field of 10 enters the starting gate for Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, they'll sure have some big shoes to fill. Twelve months ago, Sovereignty (Into Mischief) embarked on what would become a Horse of the Year campaign with a narrow victory in his seasonal debut and a little more than two months later, joined Spectacular Bid (1979), Thunder Gulch (1995) and Orb (2013) as horses to add the GI Kentucky Derby in the last half-century. Horses such as Union Rags (2012) and...

Several notable sophomores were out on track Saturday morning at Santa Anita Park, including Grade I winner Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) and fellow GIII Robert B. Lewis alumnus Secured Freedom (Practical Joke)--both of whom put in their first moves since the aforementioned race. The former finished closest to GISP Plutarch (Into Mischief) in the Lewis, that one claimed top prize by three-quarters of a length, and took a spin over the main track for trainer Jeff Mullins in an easy four-panel move. Clocked in :48.80 with jockey Hector Berrios in the...

There was only one graded stakes race on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks this weekend, but it was a big one. The GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes has produced 12 winners of the Oaks. The list includes last year's Oaks champion Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) and 2023 winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief). So, it meant something when Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) scored a game victory to win the race by a half-length, especially when you consider that she is a half-sister to Pretty Mischievous. So, here goes, your...

It's been three weeks since our last GI Kentucky Oaks Top 10, and a lot has happened. But no one stepped up with the type of explosive performance that would have shaken up the standings. We've dropped four horses from our original poll. Mythical (St. Patrick's Day) just wasn't good enough in the GIII Forward Gal Stakes. Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) has been injured and has been taken off the Oaks trail. Percy's Bar (Upstart) hasn't had a workout since Jan. 6, which doesn't bode well for her making the...

A daughter of Gun Runner won Sunday's Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita going one mile on the dirt, but it wasn't the one everyone expected. Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners maiden winner Meaning (f, 3, Gun Runner--Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief), fourth behind Eclipse champion 2-year-old filly Super Corredora (Gun Runner) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, bested not only Super Corredora, but also GII Oak Leaf Stakes winner and Juvenile Fillies runner-up Explora (Blame), the lone 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' in the field,...

'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard' Explora (Blame), last seen running second as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, returned to the track Saturday for her 3-year-old debut in the listed Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita. Favored in each of her previous four starts and a winner in two of them, the daughter of Blame has been denied in each of her Grade I tries, suffering a loss earlier in the season to stablemate Bottle of Rogue (Vino Rosso) in the GI Del Mar Debutante. With...

Buetane (Tiz the Law), a $1.15-million OBS April breezer and distant runner-up in the GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful S. at Saratoga last summer, headlines a field of five set for Saturday's GII San Vicente S. going seven furlongs at Santa Anita. The Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. colorbearer debuted with a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' performance at Del Mar Aug. 3. He finished 8 1/2 lengths behind fellow 'Rising Star' and unbeaten GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) as the favorite last time out at the...

Spendthrift Farms' Further Ado (Gun Runner), who will make his next start in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs, ran sensationally in his last start, winning a Keeneland maiden by 20 lengths, earning a 98 Beyer figure. The Beyer number is tied for the second fastest race by a 2-year-old in 2025 and earned the colt 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' status. But he's also somewhat of a mystery. Why did he run so poorly in his first two races and can he once again turn...

DEL MAR, Calif. - Super Corredora (Gun Runner) cleared her eight rivals beneath an aggressive Hector Berrios heading into the clubhouse turn, and never looked back in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. Favored 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Explora (Blame) was second. Fellow 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Percy's Bar (Upstart) was third. Super Corredora becomes the fourth Breeders' Cup winner for trainer John Sadler and first for Berrios. "She's a filly we had really high hopes for," Sadler said. "We're in our own...

Juan Hernandez, Phil D'Amato and Spendthrift Farm were the leading jockey, trainer and owner, respectively, during the Santa Anita Autumn Meet which concluded Sunday, Oct. 26. It was a ninth jockey's title at Santa Anita for Hernandez, who posted 28 wins from 92 runners (30.4%) and was also tops among jockeys with eight wins in stakes company and $1,707,338 in purse earnings. Umberto Rispoli was runner-up in the standings on 19 winners from 79 mounts ( 24.1%). Among Hernandez's biggest wins at the meet were 'TDN Rising Star' presented by...

Breeders' Cup pre-entrants Explora (Blame), Kopion (Omaha Beach), Straight No Chaser (Speightster), Goal Oriented (Not This Time) and Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) all had their final works Sunday at Santa Anita. Kopion, trained by Richard Mandella, covered three furlongs in :33.20 with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard. The 4-year-old was pre-entered in both the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint going seven furlongs and six-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, however, Mandella confirmed Kopion would be entered in the Sprint where she will be joined by Mandella-trained stablemate...